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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{paraphyletic group
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| image_caption = Various species of [[Great Britain|British]] land slugs, including (from the top) the larger drawings: ''[[Arion ater]]'', [[Kerry slug]], ''[[Limax maximus]]'' and ''[[Limax flavus]]''
| image2 = Slug in VanDusen Botanical Garden.jpg
| image2_caption=''[[Arion (genus)|Arion]]'' sp., from [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia|BC]]
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Slugs produce two types of [[mucus]]: one is thin and watery, and the other thick and sticky. Both kinds are [[hygroscopy|hygroscopic]]. The thin mucus spreads from the foot's centre to its edges, whereas the thick mucus spreads from front to back. Slugs also produce thick mucus that coats the whole body of the animal.<ref name="biologists1"/> The mucus secreted by the foot contains fibres that help prevent the slug from slipping down vertical surfaces.
The "[[snail slime|slime]] trail" a slug leaves behind has some secondary effects: other slugs coming across a slime trail can recognise the slime trail as produced by one of the same species, which is useful in finding a mate. Following a slime trail is also part of the hunting behaviour of some carnivorous slugs.<ref name="biologists1"/> Body mucus provides some protection against predators, as it can make the slug hard to pick up and hold by a bird's beak, for example, or the mucus itself can be distasteful.<ref name=illinois1>{{cite web|last=Nixon|first=P|title=Slugs|url=http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/pastpest/199809g.html|website=Home, Yard & Garden Pest Newsletter|publisher=College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois|access-date=14 December 2012}}</ref> Some slugs can also produce very sticky mucus which can incapacitate predators and can trap them within the secretion.<ref name=":0" /> Some species of slug, such as ''[[Limax maximus]]'', secrete slime cords to suspend a pair during copulation.
==Reproduction==
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[[File:Slug feeding on fruit.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Lehmannia]]'' sp. feeding on a small fruit in [[Mexico City]]]]
Slugs can feed on a wide variety of [[vegetable]]s and [[herbs]],<ref>{{cite web |title=What Do Slugs Eat? |url=https://www.slugcuisine.co.uk/ |website=Slug Cuisine |access-date=25 July 2024}}</ref> including flowers such as [[petunia]]s, [[chrysanthemum]]s, [[asteraceae|daisies]], [[lobelia]], [[lilies]], [[dahlia]]s, [[narcissus (plant)|narcissus]], [[gentians]], [[Primulaceae|primroses]], [[begonia|tuberous begonias]], [[alcea|hollyhocks]], [[tagetes|marigolds]], and fruits such as [[strawberries]].<ref name=UMMZ /> They also feed on carrots, peas, apples, and cabbage that are offered as a sole food source.<ref name=Mycologia2002/>
Slugs from different families are [[fungivore]]s. It is the case in the [[Philomycidae]] (e. g. ''[[Philomycus carolinianus]]'' and ''[[Phylomicus flexuolaris]]'') and ''[[Ariolimacidae]]'' (''[[Banana slug|Ariolimax californianus]]''), which respectively feed on slime molds ([[Mycetozoa|myxomycetes]]) and mushrooms ([[basidiomycetes]]).<ref name=Mycologia2002/> Species of mushroom producing fungi used as food source by slugs include milk-caps (''[[Lactarius (fungus)|Lactarius]]'' spp.), the oyster mushroom (''[[Pleurotus ostreatus]]'') and the penny bun (''[[Boletus edulis]]''). Other genera such as ''[[Agaricus]]'', ''[[Pleurocybella]]'' and ''[[Russula]]'' are also eaten by slugs. Slime molds used as food source by slugs include ''[[Stemonitis axifera]]'' and ''[[Symphytocarpus flaccidus]]''.<ref name=Mycologia2002/> Some slugs are selective towards certain parts or developmental stages of the fungi they eat, though this is very variable. Depending on the species and other factors, slugs eat only fungi at specific stages of development. In other cases, whole mushrooms can be eaten, without any selection or bias towards [[ontogenetic]] stages.<ref name=Mycologia2002/>
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As control measures, baits are commonly used in both agriculture and the garden. In recent years, [[Iron(III) phosphate|iron phosphate]] baits have emerged and are preferred over the more toxic [[metaldehyde]], especially because domestic or wild animals may be exposed to the bait. The environmentally safer iron phosphate has been shown to be at least as effective as baits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/less-toxic-iron-phosphate-slug-bait-proves-effective|title=Less toxic iron phosphate slug bait proves effective |publisher=Extension.oregonstate.edu |access-date=2 March 2014|date= 25 February 2008}}</ref> Methiocarb baits are no longer widely used. Parasitic nematodes (''[[Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita]]'') are a commercially available biological control method that are effective against a wide range of common slug species. The nematodes are applied in water and actively seek out slugs in the soil and infect them, leading to the death of the slug. This control method is suitable for use in organic growing systems.
Other slug control methods are generally ineffective on a large scale, but can be somewhat useful in small gardens. These include {{ill|beer trap|de|Bierfalle|lt=beer traps}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gardening-guru.co.uk/2010/04/11/slugs-traps-death-by-beer/ |title=~ Slug Traps ~ Death by Beer Offers and Reviews |publisher=Gardening-guru.co.uk |access-date=16 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118081908/http://www.gardening-guru.co.uk/2010/04/11/slugs-traps-death-by-beer/ |archive-date=18 November 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asthegardenturns.com/garden-pests/how-to-get-rid-of-slugs-and-snails/|title=How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails|publisher=asthegardenturns.com|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> [[diatomaceous earth]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Using Diatomaceous Earth for Slugs |url=https://www.slugcuisine.co.uk/diatomaceous-earth/ |website=Slug Cuisine |access-date=25 July 2024}}</ref> crushed eggshells, [[coffee grounds]], and copper.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guide to Using Copper Slug Tape |url=https://www.slugcuisine.co.uk/copper-tape-guide/ |website=Slug Cuisine |access-date=25 July 2024}}</ref> Salt kills slugs by causing water to leave the body owing to [[osmosis]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen06/gen06261.htm |title=Slugs and Osmosis |publisher=Newton.dep.anl.gov |access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> but this is not used for agricultural control as [[soil salinity]] is detrimental to crops.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} [[Conservation tillage]] worsens slug infestations. Hammond et al. 1999 find [[maize|maize/corn]] and [[soybean]] in the US to be more severely affected under low till because this increases organic matter, thus providing food and shelter.<ref name="Capinera-2020">{{cite book | last=Capinera | first=John | title=Handbook of vegetable pests | publisher=[[Academic Press]] | publication-place=[[London]], [[San Diego]], CA, USA | year=2020 | isbn=978-0-12-814488-6 | oclc=1152284558 | edition=2}} {{ISBN|9780128144893}}.</ref>
==Gallery==
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